Hola from Chiapas!

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One BIGG Adventure

Last week I wrote a lengthy piece about my decision making process regarding attending a football game.

However, when I was asked if I wanted to spend a week visiting coffee farms in Chiapas, Mexico? I did not hesitate. 😉

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“We are traveling the globe to find coffee farmers that are doing the right thing for their people, for the planet, and their communities.”
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~ Bob Fish, Co-CEO of Biggby Coffee, Co-Founder of One Bigg Island In Space

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Spilling the Beans
People. Planet. Community.

Hola!

I hope you are wondering why in the world, or HOW in the world, I ended up on this incredible trip?!

Seven years ago I got a text from Michelle Fish, whom I did not know, asking if we could do some private yoga classes together.

That initial yoga class has turned into years of practice together, an incredible friendship, and so much more. 🥰

Michelle’s husband, Bob, started what has become BIGGBY Coffee.

Bob and Michelle decided they want to have ALL of the coffee beans, used by ALL of the BIGGBY Coffee franchises, come directly from a farm, and farmer, they have a direct partnership with.  They call this project: One BIGG Island in Space.

Yes, I did say all of the coffee beans. And, by all the beans  . . . I mean over 2,000,000 pounds per year. 😳

(Fact: There are over 200 labor hours invested in producing and processing a cup of coffee long before it gets to our lips.)

And, while a direct parthernship sounds good, what does that truly mean?
In this instance, having a direct partnership with . . . means that Bob & Michelle have extensively walked the farms, eaten and lodged with the farmers, and visited the farm multiple times.

(Fact: So far, Bob & Michelle have travelled to Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, and beyond in search of farm-direct partnerships. They have many more travels scheduled for this mission.)

Right now, more than 35% of the beans consumed by BIGGBY Coffee fanatics are coming directly from these farm-direct partnerships. One BIGG Island in Space is on track to reach 50% farm-direct by 2024. Their goal is to reach 100% farm-direct by 2028.

I love that One BIGG Island in Space is all about:

1. People
2. Planet
3. Community

In other words, these partnerships are about finding the right people, who are doing good things for both the planet and their communities.

I am deeply grateful for the groundbreaking work being done by One BIGG Island in Space because thanks to their efforts, I can feel good about where my coffee is coming from.

And, now I am seeing firsthand that the people who did all the work to get it to me? They are truly empowered by these partnerships!

Con luz y amor, (With light and love,)

~ m

P.S. The Winter Solstice Yoga event is almost here!
Saugatuck Yacht Club: Thursday, December 21 | 6:30 - 8:00 PM.
SYC | 15 Park Street | Saugatuck
Registration Required | Space permitting